A Wellington Seal Coast 4WD Safari is an adventure like no other. Just south of town on the rugged coastline is a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals. Half-day safaris take you off the road and up close to these amazing creatures in their dramatic habitat. I had a wonderful day and the best experience ever seeing Fur Seals.
About New Zealand Fur Seals
This Fur Seal species called the Arctocephalus forsteri is unique to Australia and New Zealand. The fur seals are covered by 2 layers of fur, having a pointy nose and long pale whiskers. They were practically hunted to extinction by Polynesians and Europeans by the 19th century. However, they regained much of their population from being protected since the 70’s by the New Zealand Marine Mammals Protection Act. Wellington has done well regaining almost 300 seals in their colony during the winter’s peak months. Wellington’s southern coast rests on the windy and dramatic Cook Strait, running between New Zealand’s North and South Islands.
My Wellington Seal Coast Safari
My adventure started in Wellington, rounding up our group of 4 in a 4WD. Then we headed for the seal colony, but first stopping at a private farm and the Brooklyn Wind Turbine area. We also took epic photography stops for the coastline along Cook Strait. Then, finally we ventured off-road to the coastal area near the seals. First, we enjoyed a warm drink and pastry and just connected with the rugged landscape and setting. And then we explored independently for guaranteed sightings of Fur Seals.
This coastline is covered with jagged and sharp, black rock formations. Furthermore, the Cook Strait is renowned for its incessant strong winds. So, this setting is not about being calm and comfortable. The waters are rough alongside the craggy coastline. But overall the setting is wild and beautiful in an adventurous way. Even though I visited in the summer months with less seals than winter, I still observed numerous seals. I tried to be respectful and kept a healthy distance. Some of them basked on the rocks, while others swam in the blue-green waters.
In all my worldwide travels, I observed the best wildlife photography of seals in New Zealand. As an amateur, it was easy to take these epic shots displayed in this blog. Afterwards, we stopped at the Red Rocks Reserve to observe the unique orange-red rocks along the coastline.
Overall…
This adventure is one of the best ways to explore the essence of the Windy Wellington rugged region. Furthermore, it was awesome to learn another wildlife success story with the Fur Seals regaining population after being on the brink of extinction. Overall, these seals are an inspiring example, that if we all pull together and act in a sustainable manner, we can preserve important wildlife diversity.
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